Former DFAT Australia China Council scholar Andrew Phelan says “everything in China at the moment” is all about the 20th Party Congress later in the year.
“Twice a decade China has this meeting, and it confirms the leadership for the next five years – both the paramount leader and the Prime Minister,” he told Sky News host Chris Smith.
He says this is the reason Chinese President Xi Jinping has been visiting regions of China.
“This is all about Xi staying in power.”